So you're looking at a car in the dealer's lot and a slick, grinning salesperson comes up to and instantly becomes your best friend.

But look out...hidden inside that smiling row of pearly whites is a row of razor-sharp teeth that will rip you--and your bank account--to shreds before you can blink an eye.

And here's a few of the more popular ways they'll try and do it...

1. The Phone call scam: This is when you have successfully negotiated the price on a car, and the salesman suddenly gets a phone call with an offer for the car that is lower than the price you agreed on.

Then he casually lets you hear him state that he will call the man on the phone right back if you opt out of the deal.

Next, he tries to talk you down from your set upon price to compete with the guy on the phone’s offer.

Don't fall for this schtick. This bozo's got a buddy around the corner who's making the call. I'll bet if you grab the receiver, you'll hear this moron laughing his head off at the whole ruse.

Avoid this scam by telling the salesman that you will understand if he chooses to take the better offer. Then watch him panic and start backtracking.

2. Paperwork scam: This generally happens after you have already paid your bank draft for the financing of your car, and the deal has already been set in contract.

Conveniently, the salesman will write down the wrong date on the sales contract. You are then told that you will have to finance the car through their company for extra fees within 2 days or you will be stuck with a higher financing and interest rates monthly.

Are you kidding me? So the guy makes a clerical mistake and YOU'RE supposed to pay for it? Nice try. Maybe the next sucker will fall prey to this one, but not you.

To avoid this watch the salesman write your contract and check the dates before you sign them, just to be sure.

3. Factory Holdback scam: This one really burns my fuse. And it happens every day in some dealerships.

See, the sales person depends on a buyer’s ignorance so that they can mark up your prices using holdback. Holdback is money paid to the dealer for about 2-3% of MSRP.

This money that is given to the dealer from the factory when the car is sold. It's the profit for the dealer for buying the car.

Most dishonest dealers will tell you that the whole buying-from-the-factory process actually costs them money so that they can charge you for it later. Basically, they can get the money twice.

Avoid this by letting the dealer know that you know better and will not pay it.

4. Insurance scam: This is when the dealership tells you that you must get your insurance from them or a company that they work with if you want to avoid paying higher interest rates.

This scam also applies to the dealership forcing you to pay life insurance or extended warranties due to “bad credit.”

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